Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, when negotiating future trade arrangements with the EU, they plan to adopt a policy of linking greenhouse gas trading systems in relation to common operational procedures and technical standards, similar to that included in the proposed agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation (COM (2020) 255).
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
As stated within the Government’s publication: The Future Relationship with the EU, The UK’s Approach to Negotiations, the UK is committed to carbon pricing as a decarbonisation tool. We will establish a UK system that supports our world leading climate ambition, including net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This will enable UK energy generators, heavy industry and aviation to decarbonise their operations in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
In the context of our approach to carbon pricing, the UK remains open to considering a link between any future UK Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the EU ETS (as Switzerland has done with its ETS), if it suited both sides’ interests.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to (1) review, and (2) update, the imagery used on awards given in the honours system.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
We are aware of a petition on the Order of St Michael and St George. The premise of this petition is factually incorrect – the insignia for the Order of St Michael and St George was updated in 2011, and the design referred in the petition is no longer used. Any current recipient of a pre-2011 insignia is able to receive one with the updated design, on request.
Matters regarding insignia are for the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (also known as the ‘HD Committee’). The independent Officers of the Order of St Michael and St George may advise the Committee in relation to their Order. The Committee then gives advice to the Sovereign.
In light of the change in 2011, it is the view of Ministers in Her Majesty's Government that there is no need for any specific review.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to include in the terms of reference for their commission on race and ethnic disparities the replacement of the references to the British Empire in the honours system with honours that recognise the UK’s multi-racial society.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The terms of reference will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to implement the recommendations in the National Audit Office’s report Projects leaving the Government Major Projects Portfolio, published on 19 October, that business cases should be “updated to reflect any changes to the scope of the project” and that the Infrastructure and Projects Authority and Treasury “need to work together to realise their ambitions for benefits realisation, cost discipline and selecting the right projects for future funding”.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Government welcomes this report from the NAO and its recognition of the significant advances the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has made in its oversight of projects and in using benefits data to drive improved performance.
The IPA will continue to develop its work with departments, to address the NAO’s findings and recommendations to strengthen adherence to business case processes.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action is taken within departments in relation to projects which are rated in the Annual Reports of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority as amber, amber/red, or red in the Delivery Confidence Assessment; and whether they seek explanations and plans before returning projects to the green category.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
Departmental action in response to ratings of amber, amber/red or red is, in the first instance, a matter for the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO – usually a government department or public agency) of the project. The nature of the action will be specific to the individual project, its objectives and its environment.
The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) will, through its engagement, data, reporting and assurance, monitor departmental action and progress against plans. In this way it seeks to ensure evidence is provided for any change in Delivery Confidence Assessment.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government on which projects where the Delivery Confidence Assessment is shown as amber, amber/red or red in the Infrastructure and Project Authority (IPA) Annual Reports the IPA provides expert staff to assist; and whether such staff are required to produce progress reports on the projects.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Infrastructure and Project Authority (IPA) does not routinely deploy staff to assist projects on the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP). On occasion, in light of its engagement and independent assurance, the IPA may offer specific assistance or expertise to the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO – usually a government department or public agency) of any project. Equally, an SRO may make a specific request of IPA for assistance or expertise. Where the IPA and the SRO agree a deployment is in the interests of successful delivery, the nature of reporting arrangements will be agreed.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which departments have buildings in which ministers are based which allow visitors to carry folding bikes into meetings or have lockable storage for them near reception.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
This information is not held centrally.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what professional standards are required of employees of public sector commercial enterprises; and whether these comply with the standards of the Civil Service Code.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
Cabinet Office is not involved with setting the professional standards or terms and conditions for these organisations. We are therefore not able to provide a response.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what criteria the Infrastructure and Project Authority concluded that the Thames Tideway Tunnel no longer requires its oversight and reporting.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Thames Tideway Tunnel is not a Government project and would therefore not normally be subject to IPA oversight and monitoring. However, given the scale and nature of the project, it was decided that IPA would provide oversight and assurance for the set-up of the project.
The IPA confirmed that the conditions were right to return the project to DEFRA assurance through a Project Assessment Review in May 2016 and formally returned responsibility in 2017. This was only done once IPA were content that DEFRA had strong and appropriate assurance in place to ensure HMG’s interests were protected, and was documented through an exchange of letters between the CEO of the IPA and the DEFRA Accounting Officer.
Although no longer on the Government major projects portfolio, DEFRA and IPA continue to work closely together on the project.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 20 March 2015 (HLWS406), Prompt Payment – Implementing the Duty on Large Companies to Report on Payment Practices and Policies, whether payment practices and policies were incorporated into public sector contracts, including those relating to HS2, Network Rail and the passenger train operating companies, between (1) government departments and agencies and Carillion, and (2) Carillion and its sub-contractors; whether government departments and agencies monitored any divergence from those practices and policies; if so, which; and what payment terms, expressed in days, were incorporated into those contracts, broken down by sector or major contract.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
Through the Public Contract Regulations 2015, public sector buyers must include 30-day payment terms in new public sector contracts; and require that this payment term be passed down the supply chain.